The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-12-22
PEACE On EARTH.
WHAT THE CHRISTMAS MOON
MAY SEE.
Two Pictures: One OF the VI ether and Her
hiIdren: the Other OF the Mi>er and
His S.oId--i owe aud Money COntra>ted.

.rau. comes the trembling ecIo down the
ages, Peace, and hushed by the heavenly
t...le the fever tossed world pauses a mo-
.ut IL its mad delirium Peace, the
ans whisper from their blue depths and
THE still earth tonight breathes Peace.
Peace peace, We troubled world, for that
-reat heart that broke for love so long ago
bonds nearer the earth tonight, and the
Voice chat stilIed the waves speaks again
H. tile sur5ing tide of human passion.
Ireati0u is athrill. An angel flies from
nome 10 home, from land to land he wings
with the whirling globe In his hands Is
borne a censor that burns fragrant with
heavenly incense, and the perfume rests
upon human hearts The wrinkles Of Care
are smoothed and a veil hides Sorrow for
% moment. Eyes sparkle and the face Of
tile world brightens with a smile.
Good Will towards men and glory TO
God in the highest" rises the refrain
caught up by the glad voices Of children.
And soft and full by the home altar lifts
the sweet voice Of another, swelling with
tae rich tones Of an organ The childish
faces are bright and like a ripping stream
Is their anthem. Hers IS not sad, yet tears
i. lie soft eyes and the mothers voice
trgmbles as she leads her little ones IN song.
5jjt the grand instrument tells only of JOY
ana peace and love. The voices rest while
her fingers touch the responsive keys and
soft aS q whispering wind the toueS are
stealing Low over her hands the sweet
face bends aud tear falls upon the ivory
board. But richer yet the tones are swell
Ing. louder, grander while the Drumming
eyes turn heavenward and through the
mighty diapason the full heart pours a
PRAYER to its God Into an anthem of
suppIioation her soul rises again, but the
ljt,le voices are silent for over their baby
faces steal the sympathetic tears. es,
clasp them to your arms, mother, and let
Your tears mingle. then on with the cherry
anthem again. They wonder, but the
meaning some day will come and the
memory of this Christmas night shall be to
them a taIisman, through the darkest
pains Of life.
Were you thinking of the few fitting
days that shall steal your little ones away
ana send them care burdened men into
lhe wide. wide world? They are with YOU
chubby faces crowd near and your eyes
brIm with grateful tears. What marvel
flat you SadGen as the wild way ahead OF
little feet opens to your eye. and turn III
an agony Of supplicatlon 10 the great soul
oi Love who seems so near tonight. Oh,
a mighty thing is love,
Listen at the whisper that breathes in
this Christmas night, Peace, Peace Fear
not out into the maelstrOm Of lie your
bearded boys must spring, but the memory
of these evenings by your side shall be
Y lth them always more beautiful than a
dream and above the turmoil of life your
sweet voice shall come to them like ben
edictiou and the words of tenderness and
love YOU speak tonight shall not be for
gotten.
The years are winged. Tomorrow the
Old house Will stand deserted. No noisy
boots Will stamp and scatter mud, nc
bruised fingers to be kissed and healed
no rest disturbed at night with crying OF
days made busy with finding bread Anc
then You'll wander through the silent
home and long to see the ragged boots b1
the tireside again and wish for tear tC
wipe from dimpled face. They are Will
You tonight and you may forge the chair
that shall bind their souls to yours forever
50 let the grand anthem swell, and rims
out the childish voices with, peace to
wards men and glory to God in the highest.
Through the half drawn curtain th'
moon looked and her face seemed not 81
cold in the winters night. But no, Iht
wind is rising, and see how the moor
scurries by the silver edged clouds II
gusty spa5ms the blast howls among th'
chimney tops, slams the shutters and theI
Is still again Listen at the roar. Int
the silence it comes from afar- Through
the leaHess branches he flies nearer witt
wall and howl till the storm elf is passing
once more He roarS about an old hOus
on the hill top. On the caves he light
aud Whistles and screams. In wild spor
he catches tile from the chimney an'
hurIes il away and then like mad kite
sends the loosened shingles flying. Ho
Ha he howIs III fling the old hous
from the hill tonight and he grasped tn
stout caves and shook with might anf
main He shook till the house ratified ant
the chairs and table within, and pile 0
gold that lay on the table.
Heavens, how the wind blows to night,
muttered the old man and turned to III
ledger again. Was that face at tn
windowf No, only the moonlight break
ing for moment through the clouds. ii
listened, there was no sound but the Wln'
aud his own beating heart. For the hous
Was empty an had been these fifty years
;sl but this little room where the owne
lad lived bis life with only a ledger and
great iron safe for company. The empt
Chambers had heard no laughter till tn
bare walls uttered remonstrant grumbles
and the very windows had dlscontente
look Not even a dog was there The
eat ard bring no income" the old ma
sad
Years before when his brother died th
house had passed into his hands Their
vas a mortgage or something that mad
it his and left penniless an infant sol
But people thought it very strange, an
winked and nodded and said, ''Iou IL see.
Very strange too, it was, that his brother
child should be left to struggle IN IL
world (''He's shiftless chap, III ha'
nothing t o do with him, . he had sa1d.) 81
penniless he struggled on while the TIC
uncle lived in the great house alone.
But the fleeting years brought wealth
the man in the old house. While n
neighbors had danced and made love, an
found with their hard earned dollars sho'
for little feet and food for little mouth
Hid time had been given to gain and b
dollars had been locked in the big lrc
safe Hardly farm in the county D.
had been covered by his mortgages, hard
purse but had been drained tor his US
orous NAV. How he chuckled this CHRIS
mas day as a neighbor passed down t
hill from his house He had just loant
him thousand dollars. The little far
below was mortgaged, for his boys mu
90 to school. ;,
Bows, boys" growled the old ma
From the time they are born till IN
stand BY your grave it is money. none
And they can hardly wait to bury you q
to ,,ot tho little YOU leaV